| Due to the immense popularity of baseball in the | | | | different types of bats, the transition to different |
| United States, college baseball has a considerable | | | | leagues was difficult. A bat was needed to aid |
| following among college and high school students | | | | players in the adjustment from each league. |
| alike. Many of them, playing in their respective | | | | Designers wanted to combine the features of |
| home teams, hope to get recruited in the Major | | | | hardwood bats and the light weight of aluminum |
| Leagues. | | | | bats. |
| Baseball is a game comprised of two teams with | | | | In 1991, Steven Baum, a mechanical engineer, |
| nine players each. The team that wins is the one | | | | created what he called the "Baum Bat". The Baum |
| that makes the most runs. A player hits a ball | | | | Bat was made of high strength inner core, utilizing |
| with a bat before he starts a run. Baseball bats | | | | resin-fortified fibers and yarns made of an |
| vary in width, lengths and materials from which | | | | ashwood surface. It looked, felt and functioned |
| they are made. Different materials yield different | | | | likes a wooden bat, but was much more durable. |
| batting results. A heavier bat brings more | | | | The Baum Bat improved hitting power by 5%. |
| momentum to the ball. However, a heavier bat | | | | The goal of college recruiting is to recruit baseball |
| also means less speed when making a swing. A | | | | athletes amongst young people. Later, they may |
| lighter bat will give the batter more control but | | | | even get to play in Major League Baseball. It is |
| provide less momentum to the ball. The restitution | | | | important for students to know more than the |
| of a bat (in other words, how much bounce it | | | | basics in order to succeed in college baseball and |
| provides to the ball) also determines the distance | | | | to get recruited. The Internet has become to be |
| in which the ball will travel. Bats that are made | | | | a useful venue for both athletes in high school |
| with aluminum or graphite hit balls farther than | | | | students hoping to get recruited in college teams. |
| those made out of wood. | | | | There are many websites and online forums |
| Aluminum bats were first used during the 1970's. | | | | wherein students and scouts can come together |
| Batting averages increased up to 30 points, while | | | | and interact. D1Athletes is an online community |
| the number of home runs hit doubled that those | | | | wherein student athletes and coaches alike can |
| previously recorded. At the time, Major League | | | | share and exchange information they need in |
| batters used wooden bats. If the rules allowed for | | | | playing college baseball. D1Athletes offers them a |
| a change in bats made from a lighter material | | | | place to build an online presence and gain |
| such as aluminum, there would be more home | | | | important public exposure in order to get |
| runs hit, paving the way for new record sand | | | | recruited. |
| milestones. However, since different leagues use | | | | |